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Who Was Doris Duke?
Doris Duke, born in 1912, was the only child of James Buchanan Duke, the American tobacco magnate and philanthropist. At birth, she was famously dubbed “the richest little girl in the world” due to her father’s vast fortune. Despite her immense wealth, Duke shunned the spotlight, preferring a life of privacy. Over the course of more than five decades, she meticulously avoided the media and public attention. Upon her death in 1993, she left behind an estate worth over a billion dollars, controversially placing much of its control in the hands of her butler, Bernard Lafferty, sparking widespread intrigue and legal battles.
Early Life
Doris Duke was born on November 22, 1912, in New York City, the only child of American tobacco magnate James Duke and his wife, Nanaline. Dubbed by newspapers as “the richest little girl in the world” at birth, Duke led a life marked by both wealth and a desire for privacy. For more than five decades, she shunned the spotlight, consistently avoiding media attention, declining interviews, and staying away from public life. Upon her death at her Beverly Hills mansion, Duke left behind a vast fortune with no close family or friends. Her estate, valued in the billions, was entrusted to her butler, Bernard Lafferty, a semiliterate alcoholic. Despite her lifelong reclusiveness, Duke’s death once again propelled her into the public eye.
Young Heiress of a Tobacco Fortune: The Life of Doris Duke
The Duke family amassed their vast fortune from the fertile tobacco fields of North Carolina. Doris Duke’s grandfather, Washington Duke, played a pivotal role in the post-Civil War tobacco industry, forming a cartel with local farmers. Upon Washington’s death, his son, James Duke, inherited the burgeoning business, and in 1890, established the American Tobacco Company. Like many industrial titans of the era, James Duke became a notable philanthropist, donating $40 million to transform Trinity College in Durham, North Carolina, into what is now Duke University.
In the winter of 1925, James Duke contracted pneumonia, passing away in October of the same year. His will revealed that the majority of his immense wealth would be left to his 12-year-old daughter, Doris. On his deathbed, he offered her a piece of advice that would haunt her for life: “trust no one.” This warning became deeply ingrained in the mind of the young heiress. In contrast, Doris’s mother, Nanaline Duke, received only a modest trust fund, which strained their already fragile relationship.
At the age of 14, Doris was forced to take legal action against her mother to prevent the sale of family assets. Despite Doris’s desire to attend college, Nanaline forbade it, opting instead to take her daughter on an extravagant tour of Europe. It was during this time that Doris made her social debut in London, marking her entry into high society.
First Marriage and Retreat to Hawaii
During the Great Depression, the lives of the wealthy captivated the American public, and Barbara Hutton, the Woolworth heiress, along with Doris Duke, were often referred to as the “Goldust Twins” due to their immense inheritances. While Hutton embraced the media attention, Duke sought to avoid it.
At the age of 22, Duke shocked many by hastily marrying aspiring politician Jimmy Cromwell, a man 16 years her senior. Following a two-year honeymoon around the world, the couple settled in Hawaii, where they built a house named Shangri-La, inspired by the mythical paradise where no one ages. Although Duke supported Cromwell’s political ambitions, her efforts to campaign for him were overshadowed by the media’s relentless focus on her rather than his career. Over time, their marriage began to deteriorate, and when Cromwell was appointed as the Minister to Canada, Duke retreated to Hawaii, seeking the freedom and anonymity she had enjoyed there.
Living apart from Cromwell, Duke’s personal life became the subject of scandalous gossip. Her indiscreet affairs drew society’s attention, and when she became pregnant at 27, speculation swirled regarding the identity of the father. Tragically, her daughter, Arden, was born prematurely in July 1940 and passed away within 24 hours. Heartbroken, Duke was informed by doctors that she would never have children again. In her grief, she turned to psychics in an attempt to contact her deceased daughter.
An Unconventional Lifestyle
In 1945, Duke began her career as a foreign correspondent for the International News Service, reporting from various war-torn cities across Europe. After World War II, she briefly transitioned to writing in Paris, working for Harper’s Bazaar. It was during this time she met and married Dominican playboy Porfirio Rubirosa, whose infamous reputation captivated her. Due to the enormity of her wealth, the U.S. government was involved in drafting her prenuptial agreement. Upon seeing the document, Rubirosa fainted upon realizing the extent of Duke’s fortune. Their marriage lasted only a year, and Duke never remarried.
Duke’s immense fortune enabled her to travel extensively, immersing herself in diverse cultures and spiritual experiences. She interacted with Indian mystics, consulted African witch doctors, and maintained a staff of over 200 to manage her five luxurious residences: a 2,000-acre farm in New Jersey, a penthouse on Park Avenue, a mansion in Beverly Hills, a palace in Hawaii, and a summer home in Newport, Rhode Island. Despite her unconventional lifestyle, Duke remained deeply committed to growing her inheritance, ultimately quadrupling her father’s fortune.
While a shrewd businesswoman, Duke’s true passion lay in the arts. Her eclectic tastes led her to amass an extensive collection of Islamic art for her Hawaiian estate, Shangri-La, and she even recreated an entire Thai village on her New Jersey property. Duke embraced artistic expression in various forms, including belly dancing and singing in a Black gospel choir, showcasing the diverse and vibrant nature of her interests.
The Eccentric Company: Chandi Heffner and Butler Bernard Lafferty
In her later years, Doris Duke, the wealthy American heiress, surrounded herself with a colorful and unusual entourage. In 1985, she encountered Chandi Heffner, a 32-year-old devotee of the Hare Krishna movement. Duke, convinced that Heffner was the reincarnation of her deceased daughter, Arden, purchased a million-dollar ranch in Hawaii for her and legally adopted her in 1988.
It was through Heffner that Bernard Lafferty, an impoverished Irishman, was introduced to Duke. Initially hired as her butler, Lafferty quickly became enamored with his employer and rose to prominence within the household. Simultaneously, Heffner’s boyfriend, James Burns, took on the role of Duke’s bodyguard, adding another layer of complexity to the household dynamic.
In the winter of 1990, Duke mysteriously fell ill while at her Hawaii residence. Following an accident where she was knocked unconscious, Lafferty seized the opportunity to cast doubt on Heffner and Burns, insinuating that they were plotting against Duke. Though these accusations were never substantiated, Duke left Hawaii with Lafferty and retreated to her Beverly Hills home, where she fell into a deep depression. Eventually, she cut ties with Heffner entirely, entrusting Lafferty with complete control over her affairs.
Mysterious Death and Legacy of Doris Duke
At the age of 79, Doris Duke, one of America’s wealthiest heiresses, was persuaded by her confidant Bernard Lafferty to undergo several medical procedures, including a facelift and knee replacement surgery. Unfortunately, the knee operation was unsuccessful, leaving her permanently reliant on a wheelchair. In a state of increasing frailty and mental confusion, Duke signed a will in April 1993 that granted control of her fortune to Lafferty.
Shortly after, Lafferty’s behavior raised concerns when he failed to call for medical help as Duke choked on food. Throughout the summer, she experienced frequent hospital visits and eventually returned home, where she was heavily sedated with painkillers, including morphine. This regimen of powerful drugs led to her death on October 28, 1993, just weeks before her 81st birthday. No autopsy was performed, and Duke was cremated within 24 hours, with her ashes scattered into the Pacific Ocean.
In the aftermath, Duke’s legal team accused Lafferty of manipulating her finances. Amid growing suspicions about the circumstances surrounding her death, a California court ruled that Lafferty was unfit to manage her charitable foundation, valued at approximately $1.2 billion. He relinquished control and withdrew from public life, passing away three years later in Los Angeles.
Following an 18-month investigation in 1996, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office determined there was no credible evidence to suggest that Duke’s death was a result of foul play.
Today, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation continues her legacy of philanthropy, recently awarding grants to performing arts centers in New Jersey and Massachusetts.